DOL Home > OALJ > Whistleblower > Lindley v. Factory Mutual Engineering Assoc., 95-ERA-43 (Sec'y Nov. 3, 1995) |
DATE: November 3, 1995 CASE NO. 95-ERA-43 IN THE MATTER OF KENNETH S. LINDLEY, COMPLAINANT, v. FACTORY MUTUAL ENGINEERING ASSOCIATION, RESPONDENT. BEFORE: THE SECRETARY OF LABOR FINAL ORDER APPROVING SETTLEMENT AND DISMISSING COMPLAINT This case arises under the employee protection provision of the Energy Reorganization Act of 1974 (ERA), as amended, 42 U.S.C. § 5851 (1988 and Supp. IV 1992). The parties submitted a Settlement Agreement, Release and Stipulation of Dismissal seeking approval of the settlement and dismissal of the complaint. The Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) issued a decision on October 12, 1995, recommending that the settlement be approved. The request for approval is based on an agreement entered into by the parties, therefore, I must review it to determine whether the terms are a fair, adequate and reasonable settlement of the complaint. 42 U.S.C. § 5851(b)(2)(A) (1988). Macktal v. Secretary of Labor, 923 F.2d 1150, 1153-54 (5th Cir. 1991); Thompson v. U.S. Dep't of Labor, 885 F.2d 551, 556 (9th Cir. 1989); Fuchko and Yunker v. Georgia Power Co., Case Nos. 89-ERA-9, 89-ERA-10, Sec. Order, Mar. 23, 1989, slip op. at 1-2. The agreement appears to encompass the settlement of matters arising under various laws, only one of which is the ERA. See Paragraphs 1 and 3. For the reasons set forth in Poulos v.
[PAGE 2] Ambassador Fuel Oil Co., Inc., Case No. 86-CAA-1, Sec. Order, Nov. 2, 1987, slip op. at 2, I have limited my review of the agreement to determining whether its terms are a fair, adequate and reasonable settlement of the Complainant's allegations that Respondent violated the ERA. Paragraph 7 contains language which provides that the Complainant shall keep the terms of the Settlement Agreement confidential except to his spouse, attorneys, tax agencies or pursuant to court order. I construe this confidentiality provision as not restricting any disclosure where required by law. McGlynn v. Pulsair Inc., Case No. 93- CAA-2, Sec. Final Order Approving Settlement, June 28, 1993, slip op. at 3. The parties' submissions including the agreement become part of the record of the case and are subject to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. § 552 (1988). FOIA requires Federal agencies to disclose requested records unless they are exempt from disclosure under the Act.[1] See Debose v. Carolina Power & Light Co., Case No. 92-ERA-14, Order Disapproving Settlement and Remanding Case, Feb. 7, 1994, slip op. at 2-3 and cases there cited. The ALJ has acceded to the parties' request that Exhibit "A" which contains material pertaining to the specific details of the settlement be placed in separate file clearly marked "Confidential" and handled in accordance with 29 C.F.R. Part 70. See Debose, supra. I find that the agreement, as here construed, is a fair, adequate and reasonable settlement of the complaint. Accordingly, I APPROVE the agreement and DISMISS THE COMPLAINT WITH PREJUDICE. SO ORDERED. ROBERT B. REICH Secretary of Labor Washington, D.C. [ENDNOTES] [1] Pursuant to 29 C.F.R. § 70.26(b), submitters may designate specific information as confidential commercial information to be handled as provided in the regulations. When FOIA requests are received for such information, the Department of Labor will notify the submitter promptly, 29 C.F.R. § 70.26(c); the submitter will be given a reasonable amount of time to state its objections to disclosure, 29 C.F.R. § 70.26(e); and the submitter will be notified if a decision is made to disclose the information, 29 C.F.R. § 70.26(f). If the information is withheld and a suit is filed by the requester to compel disclosure, the submitter will be notified, 29 C.F.R. §70.26(h).